Should I still be feeding?

[Do224]

Been giving the bees 2:1 syrup for the past few weeks. I’m actually away so someone is doing it for me.

At what point should I tell them to stop feeding? They’re not confident enough to do an inspection of the hives. The bees are in Cumbria so the temps are starting to drop now...

Appreciate this isn’t an ideal scenario but it is what it is....

Cheers, Dave

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

how much feed have they had so far? if they're still taking it down they obviously have room for it

 

[Ian123]

Been giving the bees 2:1 syrup for the past few weeks. I’m actually away so someone is doing it for me.

At what point should I tell them to stop feeding? They’re not confident enough to do an inspection of the hives. The bees are in Cumbria so the temps are starting to drop now...

Appreciate this isn’t an ideal scenario but it is what it is....

Cheers, Dave

The only question is how much do they have stored. How much you’ve given them is not relevant. Go check heft or inspect.

 

[user 819]

As with the above replies I estimate the stores which they already have and then top up by using 2:1 ratio. The basics are to know approx. what they start with/already have, otherwise a piece of string can be very long.

 

[user 819]

Also depends on the hive set up, for instance if a double brood or jumbo set up they will take down much more then is required.

 

[Do224]

how much feed have they had so far? if they're still taking it down they obviously have room for it

Thanks, that pretty much answers my question....I’ll just tell them to keep feeding until they stop taking it down. I’m not sure how much they’ve had...they just keep topping the feeder up as needed.

I thought maybe it was bad to be feeding syrup below certain temperatures but sounds like it doesn’t matter?

 

[Ian123]

If the syrup gets to cold the bees won’t take it. In terms of uncapped stores it’s best if they contain some thymol I find.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

In terms of uncapped stores it’s best if they contain some thymol I find.

or invert

 

[Do224]

If the syrup gets to cold the bees won’t take it. In terms of uncapped stores it’s best if they contain some thymol I find.

Thymol?

 

[Do224]

or invert

Invert?

 

[Ian123]

Thymol is used as an additive to prevent mould in syrup, if using over a period or storing/mixing in volume. As it’s not an approved vmd medication it can’t be used to prevent nosema but does help in the experience of many. It also helps prevent syrup/stores fermenting.
Invert…..is pre mixed syrup.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Invert…..is pre mixed syrup.

but part inverted so it has an even lower water content than 2:1, which means it does not ferment.

 

[BernardBlack]

I fed mine 2:1 syrup, and they were taking down. The last week or so though, they haven’t taken as much. Probably getting too cold for taking in syrup

But I usually put on fondant at Halloween , so I’ll be doing that this weekend

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Thymol?

Look up Hivemakers recipe

 

[enrico]

Finished feeding two weeks ago, all my hives have put on around 2 lbs in this warm weather! Ivy just coming into its own too!